Religion leaders pen open letter to authorities rejecting ALRC report
24 religion teams from a number of denominations have penned an open letter to the federal authorities, rejecting the Australian Regulation Reform Fee’s report.
The report, tabled yesterday, argues that blanket exemptions permitting non secular colleges to discriminate in opposition to employees and college students on the premise of sexuality and gender id must be repealed:
The open letter says religion leaders are “deeply disenchanted” with the proposed reforms, and mentioned the suggestions will “stop the overwhelming majority of faith-based colleges from preferring individuals who share and authentically dwell out their religion”.
The religion teams argue they aren’t in search of to “discriminate on the premise of a protected attribute” however need to make use of employees “who share or are prepared to uphold the non secular beliefs of the college”.
We name on the Authorities to reject the Suggestions made on this ALRC Ultimate Report and to hunt a coverage end result that may protect the rights of spiritual colleges and academic establishments to construct and administer religion communities in accordance with their doctrines, tenets and beliefs.
We once more welcome your dedication to seek the advice of broadly in an inclusive and constructive method, in session with individuals of religion and non secular organisations, together with colleges, in addition to with all Australians on this necessary work.
The letter is signed by the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, Australian Nationwide Imams Council, Christian Faculties Australia, Australian Baptist Church buildings, and extra.
There are notable omissions from the letter, together with the Nationwide Catholic Schooling Fee, which has individually expressed considerations in regards to the ALRC report.
Key occasions
Daniel Hurst
The joint assertion from Australian and British ministers after talks in Adelaide additionally advised that they had mentioned how recognition of a Palestinian state may assist give momentum in the direction of a two-state answer. Nevertheless, it didn’t give any element in regards to the timing of such a transfer.
The assertion mentioned:
Given the massive variety of displaced individuals taking refuge within the space and lack of secure areas in Gaza, Ministers shared deep concern on the probably devastating penalties for the civilian inhabitants of an expanded Israeli navy operation in Rafah.
They expressed the urgency of a right away cessation of combating in Gaza to permit support to circulation and hostages to be launched as an important step towards a everlasting, sustainable ceasefire. Ministers help ongoing diplomatic efforts to attain this.
Ministers confirmed their dedication to supply elevated help for humanitarian reduction in Gaza.
Ministers reaffirmed each nations’ dedication to a two-state answer by which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist, in peace and safety, based mostly on the 1967 traces, and mentioned how recognition may help in giving momentum towards that aim.
Daniel Hurst
Israel should permit humanitarian reduction to succeed in Gaza, say Australia and UK in new assertion
Australia and the UK have known as on Israel to “permit rapid, secure, unimpeded and elevated humanitarian reduction to succeed in Palestinians in Gaza” and have additionally known as for a right away finish to combating “as an important step towards a everlasting, sustainable ceasefire”.
The joint assertion issued by Australian and British ministers this afternoon included a passage expressing “deep concern on the catastrophic humanitarian disaster in Gaza”.
Australian and British ministers “unequivocally condemned the 7 October 2023 Hamas assaults on Israel as abhorrent acts of terror in opposition to harmless civilians, together with heinous acts of sexual violence”.
The ministers additionally “pressured that every one events should act inside worldwide humanitarian regulation and reiterated their requires the rapid and unconditional launch of all hostages and the safety of civilians always”.
Every week after Australia reinstated funding to the United Nations Reduction and Works Company (Unrwa), ministers from Australia and the UK “recognised the very important position” of Unrwa:
They famous the progress of the UN Workplace for Inside Oversight Companies investigation and the investigation on Unrwa neutrality insurance policies, in addition to steps so far by the UN and Unrwa on administration reform.
Australia ‘some of the succesful nations’ to ship submarine construct, Cameron says
Requested what the minister’s message is to critics who say Australia constructing nuclear-powered submarines shouldn’t occur, David Cameron responded:
The very first thing I might say is I feel it ought to occur. Keep in mind, these are nuclear-powered however conventionally armed submarines. And nuclear-powered submarines clearly have capabilities when it comes to distance and endurance … I feel it is important know-how.
Australia is among the most succesful nations on the earth relating to delivering massive tasks. This can be a massive undertaking was we all know that from our personal expertise. We can be working very arduous to ensure we ship it correctly.
Cameron says UK and Aukus will ‘work with whoever turns into president’ in US
The UK overseas secretary, David Cameron, is requested how he thinks a doable election of Donald Trump as president of the US may have an effect on the way forward for the Aukus settlement.
He responded:
[It’s] a vital precept and overseas coverage to not contain your self in different nations and actions. What we’ll do, as I’m positive the Australian authorities will do, is figure with whoever turns into president. We do it within the UK on the premise that we have now a particular relationship with the USA based mostly on cooperating over defence and safety and intelligence and extremely shut methods.
What I might say is: no matter relationship we’re about, no matter a part of the enterprise we’re concerned in, whether or not it’s Aukus, which is an excellent association, or whether or not it’s Nato preparations, all of these issues, whether or not it’s president, one of the best factor we will do is get alliances, get tasks into the absolute best form. Whoever is the brand new president can see they’re ready with a really profitable set of preparations.
Richard Marles responded the federal government is assured in “help throughout the political spectrum”:
We really feel assured to [what] we have now seen significantly over the course of the previous couple of months in Congress that the Aukus preparations actually do guarantee help throughout the political spectrum in their very own states and we transfer ahead in full confidence on what the longer term will maintain.
Following Wong, the UK secretary of state for defence, Grant Shapps, spoke; he described Aukus as “essentially about freedom of navigation”.
He mentioned:
Aukus is essentially about freedom of navigation. About making certain the navy and oceans are able to being sailed freely as they need to be, together with right here within the Indo-Pacific. Together with within the South China Sea. What we’re about is sustaining world world-based order, one thing we maintain significantly pricey.
Penny Wong echoes David Cameron’s feedback that Israel should permit support to enter Gaza
Subsequent up, the press convention turned to the overseas affairs minister, Penny Wong, who charactered the partnership as one “match for the instances”.
Wong mentioned:
What occurs within the Indo-Pacific reverberates in Europe, what occurs in Ukraine, the place we see Russia’s unlawful and immoral invasion of Ukraine and I do need to say … we commend the UK for its management on Ukraine. We’re united in our unequivocal beneath nation of Russia’s motion.
As Richard [Marles] mentioned, we’re proud to help Operation Kudu … and the coaching of Ukrainian personnel. Yesterday in Adelaide, David [Cameron] and I mentioned formalising stronger cooperation relating to consular points, disaster points and gender-based violence, as he has spoken about.
She additionally echoed Cameron’s statements on supporting small island states, and the significance of accelerating humanitarian support to Gaza and for the combating to stop to allow support flows.
We mentioned different issues together with, as David mentioned; how we work collectively to allow … small island, growing states to entry local weather finance, how we work collectively to make sure the multilateral improvement our bodies reply higher to the wants of growing nations, and the way we make sure that the Commonwealth heads of presidency assembly in Samoa, a gathering of the Commonwealth in Pacific, such an necessary event, is one thing we each work collectively to help to make sure that it’s a success.
We additionally mentioned the scenario within the Center East. We all know what number of tons of of hundreds of Palestinians are ravenous. I echo David’s feedback in regards to the significance of elevated humanitarian support, the necessity for Israel to permit that support to enter, the significance of combating to stop [to] allow that support to circulation.
David Cameron says Australia and UK can be ‘working collectively’ to ‘struggle the rollback of rights’ globally
The UK overseas secretary, David Cameron, spoke shortly after Marles, saying now “is a time the place mates and companions must work much more carefully collectively”.
He continued:
We share [a] fairly concrete and clear plan of motion that we’re going to help Ukraine as you may have simply mentioned. It’s important in resisting Russian aggression, working collectively to stabilise the Center East, getting support into Gaza and [bringing] in regards to the answer to that battle. We’ll work collectively at serving to small island states significantly with inexperienced finance, and we’re each going to be enhancing our presence on this area as we see the financial prosperity and stability and safety that we all know we’ll want.
Cameron then turned to the main focus for the yr forward:
I feel maybe significantly specializing in the Commonwealth heads of presidency assembly in Samoa the place we aren’t simply serious about how we attempt to guarantee that it’s a profitable heads of presidency assembly but additionally the agendas we will pursue serving to Commonwealth colleagues with the challenges they face, working collectively within the G20 to reinforce the standing and lending of the event banks as they finance the sustainable improvement objectives.
Working collectively as we struggle the rollback of rights that tragically is going on in our world, whether or not it’s girls’s sexual, reproductive and well being rights, of homosexual rights and different rights, the rollback as to like-minded nations we must always struggle again in opposition to that rollback of rights. However above all, within the harmful and unsure and tough world that we dwell in right now, above all, specializing in our mutual safety.
Marles thanks UK for its ‘management’ in help of Ukraine
The defence minister, Richard Marles, is talking from Adelaide now in regards to the submarine strategic partnership introduced this morning with the UK:
That announcement this morning once more highlights the importance of Aukus inside our bilateral relationship, and when you consider the truth that a very powerful defence functionality that we function now and will definitely function sooner or later when it comes to a long-range succesful submarine, and sooner or later a long-range succesful nuclear powered submarine.
We’re assembly at a time the place we’re watching Ukraine proceed its struggle in opposition to the appalling Russian aggression, the appalling, unprovoked Russian invasion of its territory and as we meet right now, we’re all very cognisant that now could be a time for us all to be persevering with our help of Ukraine, to ensure we keep the course so Ukraine is ready to resolve this battle by itself phrases.
We’ve been proud to announce that Australia will take part within the drone coalition as a part of our ongoing help for Ukraine and we actually need to thank the management of Britain when it comes to supporting Ukraine in its resistance in opposition to Russia and we actually need to thank Britain for the way in which they’ve engaged with us when it comes to our help for Ukraine.
Vic authorities admits to stamp obligation hardship
Victoria’s deputy premier has recognised stamp obligation is a serious barrier for first house patrons to enter the market because the state considers scrapping the controversial tax.
The state authorities despatched the strongest sign but that it’s open to main stamp obligation reform, together with the introduction of a broad-based land tax, on Thursday.
It comes a month after the state treasurer, Tim Pallas, warned Victoria’s price range backside line would take a $30bn hit if stamp obligation was scrapped.
The deputy premier, Ben Carroll, on Friday mentioned the backflip was because of aggressive property market situations conserving many Victorians out of house possession.
He informed reporters:
I need to get choices, and you need to add stamp obligation into your value and while you’re bidding.
I feel significantly for first time patrons, stamp obligation is basically arduous, as a result of it’s virtually a double whammy.
Carroll mentioned the state authorities had been offered with new proof that supported the feasibility of stamp obligation being scrapped.
I feel what’s modified is the parliament has now obtained a brand new report on stamp obligation.
We’ve obtained stories a lot of the yr and we’ll, in precept, conform to lots of the suggestions.
I’ll depart that coverage significantly to the treasurer, besides to say clearly the treasurer is at all times taking a look at choices.
– AAP
Snappy buyer: crocodile captured after strolling into Queensland service station
A freshwater crocodile has shocked residents by wandering right into a north Queensland service station, prompting an uncommon name to police.
The snappy buyer was noticed wandering into the Townsville enterprise on Tuesday night time.
Police obtained the decision from shocked residents in regards to the 1.4-metre crocodile’s arrival on the service station after 7pm.
Senior wildlife officer Tony Frisby quickly arrived to snap up the roaming reptile. Frisby mentioned the freshie’s motives had been a thriller:
We have no idea why the freshwater crocodile entered the service station.
However with latest heavy rainfall, crocodiles of all sizes and species are on the transfer.
Extra on this story right here:
Henry Belot
NSW authorities departments situation joint assertion condemning rise in racism
The leaders of presidency departments in New South Wales have issued a joint assertion condemning rising charges of racism, together with harassment and bullying within the office.
The assertion comes after the discharge of a survey of 230,122 state public servants. The survey discovered 5% of respondents – or 10,500 public servants – had skilled some type of racism.
One other 13% skilled bullying, 5% had reported sexual harassment and 10% had mentioned they obtained a menace of violence.
Right here’s a piece of the joint assertion from the NSW secretaries board:
Over the previous three years, stories of experiencing racism have elevated, reaching 5% in 2023. That is impacting roughly 10,500 of our colleagues, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally various colleagues disproportionately affected.
In 2023, 17% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents and eight% of respondents from culturally and linguistically various backgrounds reported experiences of racism.
Racism, whether or not it’s discrimination, racist jokes, stereotypes or unfavorable attitudes, has no place in our workplaces and won’t be tolerated. We have to do extra to stop and reply to racism, each interpersonal and systemic. This contains open and trustworthy conversations and the bravery to name out racism.
Jordyn Beazley
Thanks Emily Wind, and good afternoon everybody. I’ll now be with you till this night.
Emily Wind
Many thanks for becoming a member of me on the weblog right now. The stunning Jordyn Beazley can be right here to information you thru the remainder of right now’s information. Take care, and have a terrific weekend.